Pipe-connecting fitting.



H. A. POPPENHUSEN & A. P. STRONG.

PIPE CONNECTING FITTING APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. mm.

Pmmm A. 21, 1917.,

HERMAN A. POPIENHUSEN, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, AND ARTHUR P. STRONG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO GREEN ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PIPE-CONNECTING FITTING.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Aug. 211, ii il'it To all whom. it may concern:

Be itknown that we, HERMAN A. Porrnxrrcsnx, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, and ARTHUR P. Sraoxc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Connecting. Fittings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe connecting fittings. adapted for use in conduits or pipe lines for conveying abrasive materials, and more especially in con nection with pneumatic conveying systems for the handling and disposal of ashes from the furnaces of large boiler plants.

Conveying systems of the character referred to, generally consist of a system of pipes or conduits preferably of metal, which extend from the furnace to the point of disposal. These pipe lines or conduits ordinarily include an arrangement of horizontal and vertical runs of pipe. connected together by curved or elbow fittings. It is a well known fact that the degree of abrasive action is considerably greater at the bends or turns in a pipe. due to the impinging of the material directly against the curved walls of the fittings. as would manifestly result where the direction of flow of the material is abruptly changed. To overcome the excessive degree of wear or abrasive action that occurs at the bends. the curved or elbow fittings are provided with removable wear sections of extremely hard metal, which may be replaced from time to time without disturbing the connections between the pipes.

As ordinarily constructed, fittings of this tvpe consist of a main section provided with flanges whereby the fitting is connected to the ends of the adjacent pipes in the usual manner, a wear section adapted to be inserted within the main section and forming a portion of the wall of the passage through the fitting, and a cover plate which extends over the wear section and closes the aperturc through which the wear section is removed.

Inasmuch as these fittings and parts are of considerable size and weight. and furthermore since the fittings are located in places inconvenient of access for the purpose of removing the Wear sections and replacing new ones, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in making replacements, because of the lack of sufficient working space to permit more than a single workman to operate, and then only under exceedingly awkward and inconvenient working conditions. As a result, the liability of injury to the workman is greatly increased, by reason of difiiculty in removing, handling, and manipulating the bearing parts of the fitting in the operation of making the necessary adjustments and alterations.

The purpose of this invention is to provide .a construction whereby the removable wear section can be easily removed and replaced, in a manner which will eliminate the ditficulties heretofore experienced, and likewise the dangers which have heretofore attended the operation of renewing the wear sections. Thevnovel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of the fitting embodying the features of the invention and showing the operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the lower or bottom portion of the fitting and the operating mechanism in plan view;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the fitting and the parts of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line H of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

The fitting disclosed in the drawings has the general appearance and features of the ordinary elbow fitting, the same comprising a curved metal conduit having a central passage therethrough and provided at its ends with flanges 11, 11, adapted to be joined to corresponding flanges at the ends of pipes joined by said fittings. The particular fitting 10 herein illustrated comprises, in general, a main section or body member 12, provided at its ends with flanges 11, 11; a removable cover or section 13; and a wear section 14, located immediately within the removable cover section 13 and extending longitudinally of the central passage thereof and throughout that portion of maximum curvature. The cover section 13 is in reality but a portion of the wall of the fitting, which is severed-from the main section and removably connected thereto, but otherwise conforms to the contour of the fear or back portion of an ordinary elbow fitting, being preferably separated from the main section along an imaginary plane cutting through the fitting at points immediately behind the flanges 11, 11 where the are of maximum curvature of the fitting joins said flanges. In this manner a comparatively large aperture is provided in the back of the fitting, surrounded by plain bearing surfaces, which are engaged by similar marginal bearing surfaces of the cover section and held in close contact therewith, thus effectively sealing the connection between the body member and the cover section. As shown in Fig. 5, the wear section is mounted within a cavity formed in the cover section, the latter being increased beyond its normal size in order to provide a depression or cavity to receive and retain the wear section, said wear section being preferably attached to the cover section by the provision of set screws 15, 15, which project through the side wall of the cover section and bear against flat surfaces formed by providing a plurality of lugs 16, 16 along the sides of the wear section and opposite the set screws 15, 15. The wear section is, furthermore, of varying thickness, having a greater thickness of metal throughout the central portion than at the ends, thus providing for the increased amount of wear or abrasive actionthroughout the central portion of the passage.

Referring now to the mechanism for pivotally connecting the removable cover section and wear section attached thereto, and the means for actuating said members, the construction employed preferably consists of parts as follows: At the ends of the main section 12 and integral with the flanges 11, 11 thereof are provided the brackets 17 17, the same being formed by continuing or extending the flanges in a lateral direction to form convergent extensions located in the plane of said flanges, said extensions terminating in parallel arms 18, 18 integral with the flange extensions and inclined at angles thereto, in a direction rearwardly from the planes of said flanges and parallel to the central longitudinal plane of the fitting. At either end of the removable cover section are provided integral arms 19, 19 extending outwardly at right angles to the bearing surface or line of partition between the removable cover section 13 and the main section 12 and, further, in parallel relation to the arms 18, 18 of the brackets 17 17. The outer ends of the arms 19, 19 terminate in laterally extending projections 20, 20, which project a short distance beyond the ends of the cover section.

esa-sea Extending longitudinally of the fitting and between the arms 18, 18 of the bracket is a rotative shaft 21, said shaft having bearing engagement at its ends with bearings 22, 22, formed in said arms 18, 18 at a point midway of their length (Figs. 1 and Fixed upon the shaft and immediately adjacent to the bearings 22, 22 thereof are lever arms or links 23,- 23, the same being provided with hearing members surrounding the shaft and secured thereto in nonrotative position by means of set screws 24L, 24:. The arms or links 23 extend at right angles to the shaft 21 and in a direction toward the cover section 13, and are pivotally connected at their free ends with the ends of the cover section 13, said pivotal connection being preferably formed at the base of the integral arms 19, 19 of said cover section, there being provided bearing screws 25, 25 having screw-threaded engagement with bosses formed at the base of said arms.

At the extreme ends of the arms 18, 18 of the brackets 17 17 are pivotally connected links 26, 26, said links extending parallel with the links 23, 23, and having pivotal connection at their free ends with the outer end portions 20, 20 of the arms 19, 19 of the cover section 13. The connection between the links 26, 26 and the arms 19, 19 preferably consists of bearing screws 27, 27 extending through apertures formed at the ends of said links and having screw-threaded connection with the end surfaces of the projections 20, 20, as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the relation of the links 23 and 26 at each end of the fitting, it is to be noted, first, that the link 26, mounted upon the shaft 21, is spaced inwardly from the link 23, and likewise its point of pivotal connection with the cover section is oflset a corresponding distance inwardly from the point of pivotal connection of the link 23 therewith, hence to maintain the links in parallel relation and at right angles to the shaft 21 the outer end portions of the arms 18, 18 are ofiset or bent inwardly a suflicient distance to maintain the links in parallel relation. Furthermore, the links 23 and 26 are of equal length, and the distances between the points of pivotal connection of the adjacent ends of said links 23 and 26 with each arm 18 and the cover section 13 are of equal length, thus the imaginary lines representing the lengths of said distances between the four points of pivotal connection of the links form a parallelogram, that is, a four sided figure, the opposite sides of which are parallel and equal in length. It is manifest, therefore, that, if the cover plate were swung or moved relative to the main section, the parallelogram arrangement of the links and pivot points would control the path of movement of the cover section, in such a manner that the path menses of the points of pivotal connection of the links with the cover section will be in the arc of a circle, the radius of which is the length of the links 23 and 26, thus the cover section maintains a definite relation to the main section, sov that if the cover section is swung away from the main section by rotating the shaft 21, its movement is such that it will be swung back into exact registering relation to the main section. The arrangement of the links, therefore, is but an application of the well known principle of the pantograph, for transmitting parallel motion, and provides a means whereby the connection can be removed for the purpose of removing and replacing a wear section, and returned to its proper position by merely rotating the shaft 21 in the proper direction.

In order to facilitate therotation of the shaft and the consequent manipulation of the cover section, the following arrangement is provided. Fixed upon the shaft 21 at a point intermediate its ends is a worm-wheel 28, said worm-wheel having driving connection with a worm-shaft 29, mounted in a bearing 30 formed integral with the main section 12, as shown in Fig. 5. The wormshaft 29 extends at right angles to the shaft 21 and is provided at its upper end and beyond the bearing 30 with a crank 31 having a handle 32. By rotating the shaft 29, by means of the crank 31, the shaft 21 is rotated in the usual manner of a worm-drive, the rotation of the shaft 21 in turn effecting the swinging of the cover section 13, through the link 23, and in a direction away from the main section. The cover plate being thus removed, access may be had to the wear section 14 for the purpose of removal and replacement of a new wear section, whereupon the crank 31 may be rotated in the opposite direction and the cover section swung back into its normal position in contact withthe main section. The employment of a wormwheel type of drive permits the cover section to remain in the desired position without other external supporting means, and furthermore permits the cover section to be drawn tightly against the main section and to be held in close and sealing contact therewith without the use of bolts or other fastening means. a

The advantage of a fitting of the character herein described is manifest, namely, that it provides means whereby the cover section can be easily and quickly removed and the necessary alterations made by merely manipulating a crank, which together with the parallel links actuates the cover section in a manner to avoid the necessity of supporting the cover section or directing the same by hand in its movement to and from closed position.

The details of construction whereby the objects of the invention may be accomplished may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and for that reason it is not desired to limit the invention to the particular features of 7@ construction herein described and illustrated, except as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A pipe connecting fitting, comprising a main section, a separate wall section adapted to support a wear section, means connecting said separate wall section with said main section and permitting the bodily movement of said separate section into and-out of bearing engagement with said main section, and gear mechanism for moving said separate section.

2. A pipe connecting fitting, comprising a main section, a separate wall section adapted to support a wear section and to close an opening in said main section, means connecting said separate section with said main section and permitting the movement of said separate section into and out of closing posiso tion, and actuating means for movingsaid separate section and for forcing the same into close contact with the main section.

3. A. pipe connecting fitting, comprising a main section, a separate wall section adapted to support a wear section, means connecting said separate wall section with said main section to permit said separate section to be moved into and out of bearing engagement with said main section, and actuating means operatively connected with said connecting means and acting thereon to force the separate section in bearing engagement with said main section.

4. A pipe connecting fitting, comprising a main section, a separate wall section, means connecting said separate section with said main section, and gear mechanism for actuating said separate section into and out of closing position and for holding the same stationary in all positions of its movement.

5. A pipe connecting fitting, comprising a main section, a separate wall section normally closing an opening in said main section and adapted to support a wear section, arms pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of said separate section and main section, to permit the movement of said separate section into and out of closing position, actuating means connected with said arms and adapted to move said separate section and to force the same into closed position, and means for guiding said separate section into closing position to insure the registering relation of the same with the opening of the main section.

6. A pipe connecting fitting, comprising a main section, aseparate wall section adapted to support a wear section, alever arm pivotally mounted on said main section and connected with said separate section, and gear mechanism connected with said lever arm for moving said separate section and for holding the same in any position of its movement. p

7 A pipe connecting fitting comprising a main section, a removable section normally closing an opening in said main section, parallel links mounted on said main section and pivotally connected to said removable section, said links and points of pivotal connection being disposed to insure the registering relation of said removable section and opening of the main section.

8. A pipe connecting fitting comprising a main section, a removable section adapted to be swung bodily to and from said main section, a shaft rotatively mounted on said main section, an arm fixed on said shaft and pivotally connected to said removable section, and a link pivotally connecting said main section and removable section and acting to effect a predetermined path of bodily movement of said removable section relative to said main section.

9. A pipe connecting fitting comprising a main section, a removable section normally closing an'opening in said main section, a pair of parallel links, of equal length, pivotally connected to said main section and removable section, and means for actuating said links to swing ,said removable section into and out of closing position and for holding said removable section in closed position.

10. A pipe connecting fitting comprising a main section, a Removable section normally closing an opening in said main section, a shaft journaled on said main section, lever arms fixed adjacent the ends of said shaft and pivotally connected to the ends of said removable section, links parallel to said arms and pivotally connected to said main section and removable section, and means for rotating said shaft.

11. A pipe connecting fitting comprising a main section, a removable section, a wear section mounted in said removable section, a shaft journaled on said main section, a lever arm mounted on said shaft and pivotally connected to said removable section, a wormwheel mounted on said shaft, and a crank operated worm-shaft mounted on said main section.

12. A pipe connecting fitting comprising a main section provided with end flanges, a removable section, normally closing an open- I ing in said main section, brackets formed integral with said flanges, a shaft journaled in said brackets, lever arms mounted on said shaft and pivotally connected to the ends of said removable section, a link parallel with each lever arm and pivotally connected with each bracket and said removable section, a worm-wheel mounted on said shaft intermediate its ends, and a crank operated wormshaft mounted on said main section and engaging said worm-wheel.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 17th day of November, A. D. 1916.

HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN. ARTHUR P. STRONG.

Witnesses:

A. S. BRADY, Jos. M. HAR'NIT. 

